Brake and clutch pedal pad



Patentes May 17, i932 UNITED STATES rassen OLIVER C. RITZ wLLE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL PAD Application led 'February 1931. Serial No. 513,646.

My invention relates to brake and clutch pedal pads, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts for securing such a pad firmly in position on a pedal. In the various makes and designs of automobiles now in common use, there is a very great variety of shapes and sizes of pedals, an'd it is the object of my invention to provide mounting means capable of being used to advantage in connection with a wide range of shapes and sizes of foot levers for connecting cushioning pads in position on the tread faces of the levers. To this end, it is/one of the objects of my invention to provide a plurality of independently variable gripping jaws in such spaced relation to each other and each of such shape and disposition as to enable the jaws to be tightened effectively' upon the edges ofthe tread plate portion of any pedal in ordinary use.

It is another object of my invention to im- )rove devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

y Fig. 1 is a rear face view of a pedalpad equipped with my improved mounting devices, one of the gripping jaws being broken away for better showing the construction;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken at lines 2 2, 3 3 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 1; and j Figs. 5 and 6 are views showing the -manner of mounting my improved pad on pedals of diii'erent tvpes,' cach view being a rear face View of the 'pedal and having the grip-- ping jaws broken off in each instance substantially at the point ofgripping engagement for better showing the relation of the jaws to the pedal.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters7 10 indicates a cushioning pad which 1n the construction illustrated comprises a block 1l of rubber secured to a backing plate 12 by means of a frame 13 of sheet metal engaging the edges of the plate 12 and edge portions 14 of the block of reduced thickness as compared with the remainder of the block..

The means for mounting the cushioning pad 10 in position comprises a plate of sheet metal 15 bent into the shape of a channel at its middle portion and having its side portions secured to the plate 12 by spot-welding or in any other suitable manner, with the channel portion lextending longitudinally of the pad in centered position thereon. At each side of the pad, the plate 15 is cut out at selected points to provide guideways 17 in spaced relation to each other in the form of backwardly open grooves or channels, as is best shown'in Fig. 1, the edges of the plate 15 adjacent to the cut-out portions being offset backwardly for providing such guideways 17, as is best shown in Fig. 3. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 three of the sets of guideways are provided, all extending transversely of the pad from the channel 7' member 16 outwardly, two sets of such guideways being provided at one side of the pad in parallel relation to each other, and the third set of guideways-being located at the'opposite side of the pad midway between the other two sets of guideways.

In the slideway formed by each set of guideways 17, I have slidably mounted a slide plate 18. each of said slide plates 18 being provided on its outer end with a grip- 8" ping jaw 19 which extends backwardly and then obliquely backwardly and inwardly. 4lach of the gripping jaws 19 is in the form of a shallowchannel bar, havingthe square corner edges of the metal hardened so as to be able to cut intoany comparatively soft metal part for obtaining a strong grip thereon. y The slide vplates 18 in the construction shown are given a comparatively snug fit in the slideways so as to hold the gripping jaws 19 against swinging movement in any direction `with respect to the pad 10.

Means is provided for moving the gripping jawsv to any desired adjusted position along the slideways, such means inthe construction shown comprising screws 2() which extend loosely through suitable openings 21 in the gripping jaws (see Fig. 4) and thence into engagement with threaded openings in the sides of thechannel member 16, as is best indicated in F ig. 3. As will be readily understood, upon the rotation of the screw 20 of any one of 'the grippingjaws 19 in the proper direction, such gripping jaw will beV moved inwardly along its slideway and upon rotation of the screw in the opposite direction will be free to move outwardly, such adjustment of the 'gripping jaw being efected l independently of any movement of theother gripping jaws..

In Fig. 2, I have shown in 'dotted lines a changed position of the gripping jaw 19, showing that the jawsare capable of a very wide range oli-variation in position for iitting pedals of a wide range of sizes and shapes. In'said Fig. 2, Ihave-also indicated by dotted lines two forms of plate or bar 22 and 23 upon which the device as shown in solid lines in said figure might be secured alternatively, the engagement of the gripping jaws with the bar 23 being at a considerably greater distance from said pad 10 than the distance of the points of engagement ofthe gripping jaws with the plate 22. At the same time the points of engagement of the gripping jaws with the plate or bar 22 are correspondingly farther to one side with respect to the central bearing providedfby thel channel member 16 than are the points of engagement of the gripping jaws with the bar 23.

By reason of the oblique positioning of the gripping jaws, they are adapted to be given an effective gripping engagement with a great variet In this arrangement the pad is mounted upon the face of a tread plate 24 carried by a lever 25, such tread plate `,'24 having an outwardly extending pin 26 at one end thereor` which serves as a guide for centering the foot of a driver upon the pedal. In this arrange ment, the pad is mounted with one end closely adjacent to the pin 26, and the gripping jaws are moved independently variable distances inwardly for brlnging the sharpened and hardened edges of the gripping jaws into,

engagement at various points with the side edge ofsuch tread plate 24. In the arrangement shown', the pad 10 is applied with its longer dimension extending transversely of the lever, the gripping jaws 19 at the same side of the pad being in engagement with the tread plate 24; at opposite sides of the lever 25. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, each of the gripping jaws 19 has only a single point engagement with the tread plate Inasmuoh, however, .as the gripping jaw-s are ly from its tread face at one` side thereof. In.

this instance, the pad is applied to the tread plate with its shorter dimension extending transversely of the lever, the two gripping jaws 19 at the same side of the pad being arranged at opposite sides of the pin 29. In this instance too thegripping jaws 19 at the lei't vhave only single pointengagement with the plate, while the gripping jaw 19 at the opposite side of the pad has a two-point engagement.

t By the provision of the three gripping |jaws in triangular arrangement with respect toeach other with the single jaw at one side located between the two jaws at the opposite side', with each of the jaws movable with respect to the pad independently of the movement of either of the other two jaws, and with the paths of movement of the jaws in parallel relation to each other, I have provided an arrangement which is very effective for holding the pad firmly in position upon a pedal and which is capable of effective use with a very great variety of different sized and dii ferent shaped pedals, this arrangement being particularly eeotive in connection with the two-point engagement of the individual gripping jaws. By making the gripping jaws adjustable along their path of movement while at the same time holding the jaws against any apreciable swinging movement y los with respect to the pad, I have provided an exceedingly efficient .and'adaptable construction.

While I'prefer to emplo'y substantially the construction. as shown in my drawings, and

particularly so with respect to the form and arrangement of the mounting means, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the form and arrangement as shown,

except as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

1. A pedal vpad comprising, in combination, a support, a cushioning pad secured on one face of said support, the opposite face of said support providing a pedal engaging sur-- face, jaw means carried by said support and adapted to engage one edge of a pedal when it is in contact with said surface, a guideway formed in said support and located between said surface and said cushioning pad, a jaw member slidable in said guidway 4and adapted to engage the opposite edge of the pedal, a screw holding member transversely disposed with respect to said guideway, and a screw eX- tending through said jaw and holding members for m-oving the jaw member into clamping engagement with the edge ofthe pedal.

2. A pedal pad comprising, in combination, a support, a cushioning pad secured on one face of said support, the opposite face of said support providing a pedal engaging surface, three transversely extendingA guide ways formed' in said support and located between said surface and said cushioning pad, two of said guideways being at one side of the pedal pad and the other in the space therebetween but at the opposite side of the pedal pad, a jaw member slidable 1n` each of said guideways and adapted to engage Van edge portion of the pedal, a screw holding member transversely disposed with respect to each of said guideways, and a screw extending through the jaw and screw holding members of each of said guideways for inybut at the opposite side of the pedal pad, a

jaw member slidable in each of said guideways and adapted to engage an edge portion of the pedal, a screw holding member transversely disposed with respect to each of said v `Surface, jaw means carried by said support guideways, and a 'screw extending through the jaw and screw holding members of each of said guideways for'independently moving the jaw member into clamping engagement with the edge of the pedal, each of said jaw members having 'ts eiective. gripping portion in the form f an arm extending in oblique position inwardly and backwardly whereby the several jaw -members may be tightened into holding' engagement with pedals of various sies or shapes.

4. A pedal pad comprising, in combination, a support, a cushioning pad secured on one face of saidy support, the opposite face of said support providing a pedal engaging surface, three transversely extending guideways in the form of backwardly open grooves formed in said support and located between. said surface and said cushioningl pad, two of said guideways being at one side of the pedal pad and the other in the space therebetweeny but at the opposite side ofthe pedal pad, a jaw member slidable in each ofthe said guideways and adapted to engage an edge portion of the pedal, said guideways being adapted by engagement with said respective jaw.

lsaid support providing apedal engaging surface, three transversely extending guideways in the form of backwardly open grooves formed in said support and .located between said surface and said cushioning pad, two of said guideways being at one side of the pedal pad and the other in the space therebetween but at the opposite side of the pedal pad, a jaw member slidable in each of said guideways and adapted toengage an edge portion of the pedal, said guideways being adapted by engagement with said respective jaw members to hold the latter from any substantial swinging movement therein, each of said jaw members having its effective gripping portion in the form of a channelA either side portionof which is adapted to grip independently of the other side portion, a screw holding member transversely disposed with respect to each of said guideways, and a screw extending through the jaw and screw holding members for independently moving the jaw member into clamping engagement with the edge of the pedal. v

6'. A pedal pad comprising, in combination, a support, a cushioning pad secured on one face of said support, the o posite face of said support providing a pe al engaging and adapted to engage one edge of a pedal when it is in contact with said surface, said support comprising a pair of plates secured together, one of said plates being notched and forming with the other platea transverselyextending guideway, a jaw member slidable in said guideway and adapted Vto engage an edge portion of lthe pedal opposite said jaw means, a screw holding member transversely disposedl with respect to said guidewa-y, and a. screw extending through said' jaw and holding `members for moving the. jaw member into clamping engagement with the edge lof 'the pedal; l

7. A pedal pad comprising, in combination,

l a support, a cushioning pad secured on one I face of said support, the opposite face of said support providing a pedal engaging surface,

lsaid support comprising a pair of plates secured together, one of said plates having two spaced transversenotches therein at one side and a transverse notch therein at the opposite side, said last named plate at ,its notches T il forming with the other plate guideways, a lj aw member sldable in each of said guide- Ways and adapted to engage an ed e portion of the pedal, a screw holding mem er transversely disposed with respect to each of said guidevvays, and a screw extending through the jaw and screw holding members of each of said guideways for independently moving the jaw memberrinto clamping engagement m with the edge of the pedal. V

8. A pedal pad comprising, in combination, a support', a cushioning pad secured on one Vface of said support, the opposite face of Y said support providing a pedal engaging suru face, said sup ort comprising :a pair of plates c secured toget er, one of said plates having an inverted channel extending longitudinally thereof and having two spaced transverse notches therein at one side of said channel o and a transverse notch therein at Vthe other side of said channel, said last named plate at its notches/forming with the other plate guideways, a jaw member sldable in each of said guideways and adapted to engage an 25 edge portion of the pedal, the sides of said channel over said respective guideways havingl screw receiving openings, each of said jawl members also having a screw receiving opening, and a screw extending through the 3'0 screw receiving opening over each of lsaid guidevvays and the'screw receiving opening inthe jaw member therein for independently moving the jaw member into clamping en gagement with the edge of the pedal.

36 OLIVER C. RITZ WOLLER. 

